Most talented Irish Juniors/seniors

thirstywork2

Everyone knows someone who has talent but never fulfils this talent.

Some of the obvious ones would be talented Juniors who never matched this at senior level.


Colin Costello would be the one for me.Having spent a small time at Arkansas college things didnt work out.
He won the national 1500m last year of very little training and a race build up of a couple of 5k road races which wouldn't be the typical build up.

I would love to see Colin fulfill his talent as he has age on his side.There are loads of talented athletes coming through right now so lets hope they reach their potential.

YFlyer

That's the Razorbacks for you.

Getonwithit

At least CC is still in the sport. Danny darcy is gone completely and may have been an even rawer talent than Costello as his training was not as deep.

Pisco Sour

Adrian o'Dwyer is possibly the biggest waste of talent Irish athletics has ever had.

myflipflops

Costello is the best Irish junior I had seen until I saw Mark English last summer. He is the biggest waste of talent in Ireland I know of.

I know it's the walk but Anne Loughnane won a World Youths medal. I don't remember seeing much about her after that. World Youths is a savage standard so lots of talent there.

With Adrian O'Dwyer, 2.30 fulfilled expectations that you would have had for him as a junior.

Getonwithit wrote: »

At least CC is still in the sport. Danny darcy is gone completely and may have been an even rawer talent than Costello as his training was not as deep.

Darcy was smashed by injuries. He didn't just throw it in.

ss43

Getonwithit wrote: »

At least CC is still in the sport. Danny darcy is gone completely and may have been an even rawer talent than Costello as his training was not as deep.

In what way was D'Arcy's training less deep? It took Costello a very short time to catch D'Arcy when he started running so that would suggest Costello was more talented.

Pisco Sour

myflipflops wrote: »

With Adrian O'Dwyer, 2.30 fulfilled expectations that you would have had for him as a junior.

Yeh but 2.30 at the age of 20/21, then failed to clear 2.10 at Olympics and has never been seen at international level again. I don't think that is fullfilling his talent.

fleck

Pisco Sour wrote: »

Yeh but 2.30 at the age of 20/21, then failed to clear 2.10 at Olympics and has never been seen at international level again. I don't think that is fullfilling his talent.

He was interviewed on "off the ball" recently and explained his lack of progress to injury. Can't remember the exact details but the injured first occurred before the olympics and he had a number of comeback attempts that sucummed to the injury before throwing in the towel.

Ceepo

A few that spring to mind from a few years back, Mark Smyth, very good junior, won Nat junior,

William Harty, serious talent, still has the junior record for Ballycotton, i think 51. 30 ish,

Patrick Guidera, Nat Junior xc champ, 43rd in World xc and had a few lads like Martin Fagan, Sean Connelly, and some british guy, Farah or something like that behind him

I would say there is a hugh list of Juniors over the years that could be added to the list. Unfortunately.

ecoli

Would have to agree with Costello. To this date the Kaunas 2005 1500m final is probably one of my favourite races to watch (have it on DVD somewhere at home must dig it out)

To see two Irish battling out for top spot in this race was crazy and in terms of physical ability I would say they were on par but I think in terms of race tactics I dont think we have had a better racer than Colin.

This was highlighted when he took the National title ahead of runners who strictly speaking from a physical standpoint should have beat him

thirstywork2

Robert Connolly DSD 3rd in Euro U23 5000m behind Thompson and Farah.
His win in the Europa club 3k was meant to be class and saw him leavve Colm Mclean standing in a last lap finishing kick.

notsofast

Pisco Sour wrote: »

Adrian o'Dwyer is possibly the biggest waste of talent Irish athletics has ever had.

Irish record holder indoors and outdoors, Olympian, member of the elite 2.30 set (and possibly the most unique personal look in irish athletics) . Not completely unfulfilled potential.

Having said that, I know what you mean. 2.29 won a medal in London.

ChickenTikka

I think its a bit harsh on these athletes to say Colin Costello and Adrian O'Dwyer were a "waste of talent". Both surely worked hard to achieve what they did as youths/young men. Maybe they maximized their talent at a young age?

O'Dwyer jumped 2.30. If we assume generously that he could have equaled the world record of 2.45, he achieved 94% of his potential maximum in his lifetime. Many of us would be happy to achieve that. Maybe the rest of us are bigger wastes of talent.

Let he without talent cast the first stone!

endswell

ChickenTikka wrote: »

I think its a bit harsh on these athletes to say Colin Costello and Adrian O'Dwyer were a "waste of talent". Both surely worked hard to achieve what they did as youths/young men. Maybe they maximized their talent at a young age?

O'Dwyer jumped 2.30. If we assume generously that he could have equaled the world record of 2.45, he achieved 94% of his potential maximum in his lifetime. Many of us would be happy to achieve that. Maybe the rest of us are bigger wastes of talent.

Let he without talent cast the first stone!

aye, tis better than a 110% too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl4QMS0Zh_w&sns=em